ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK

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Hamilton's ASB program is a student-run organization that provides community service in New York State and throughout the southern United States.

In the spring of 2013, ASB offered ten trips for more than 100 students. Nine groups traveled south for week-long construction projects, direct service work with children, environmental service or work in an urban soup kitchen. One group traveled to Syracuse for a shorter, urban trip, getting to know the local area and helping Hamilton's neighbors.

ASB has now evolved into its own student organization with an executive board that runs the program with Hamilton's COOP. The students are housed in churches, camps and refugee centers.

History of ASB

Hamilton's ASB program was initially sponsored by the Hamilton Association for Volunteering, Outreach and Charity (HAVOC), a student-run organization that provides community service in Oneida County. The Alternative Spring Break program was started in 1993 when 20 students traveled to Miami to work on Hurricane Andrew relief with Habitat for Humanity. In subsequent years, the number of participants has steadily increased.